You can admit it. When you’re watching an NBA game and a fast break starts to materialize, you start getting ready for something spectacular. Whether your team’s identity is rooted in pulling up from three on the break or you’re waiting for your favorite player to detonate somebody at the rim, the first moment of a fast break is exhilarating. You move to the edge of your seat, your cold sports heart starting to thaw. Maybe you even stand up in anticipation of a big play you’ll immediately watch over and over on Twitter.

Anything could happen. We could see Steph Curry pull up from 35, completely demoralizing the history of transition defense coaching. Or maybe Giannis Antetokounmpo will jump over Tim Hardaway Jr. Everything is on the table until an offensive player drops a defender through said table.

The NBA today doesn’t quite resemble the frantic tempo of the ’60s or the ’80s, but we’ve gone away from the slower paces...